State Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) is a member of the breakaway Independent Democratic Conference.Staten Island Advance/Irving Silverstein

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The Independent Democratic Conference -- a breakaway group to which Staten Island state Sen. Diane Savino belongs -- has gained a fifth member in the continuing battle over which party will run New York's Senate.

The Independent Democratic Conference was created in 2010. The members said they wouldn't follow the Democratic leaders who reigned over a chaotic two-year tenure in which the Democrats were in charge. That time was marked by power struggles pushed by the Republican minority and dissident Democrats. At the time, Smith was a top Democratic leader.

The Senate's majority will be decided after two races too close to call on election night are decided in court.

Republicans held a 31-29 majority going into the elections, but neither party has clear control now.

Asked to comment, Ms. Savino issued the following statement: "I'm pleased to welcome Sen. Smith to the Independent Democratic Conference. Over the past two decades, Sen. Smith has built a tremendous record, not only as a public servant but as a Democratic leader. Sen. Smith, like the other four members of the IDC, understands that the people's business is too important to be left in the hands of unproven leaders. All of us in the IDC look forward to working with Sen. Smith right away so that we can rebuild New York and move our state forward."